MFChop Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Fist off a special thanks to Milad from LEDGroupbuy.com he was a huge help before and after my purchase So after looking around and seeing all the what I though were failed attempts at DIY lighting for the EDGE. I though they looked sloppy or ruined the EDGE look. So I looked into the nano customs and as we all know is no longer producing them. Then I looked to other companies nano lighting options and once again either ruined the look of the EDGE and some are just to dam expensive....So here is my solution! Parts: 6 XP-E Royal Blue Cree LEDs 3 XM-L Neutral White LEDs 9 Adhesive Cree Tape 1 DIM4 Sunrise Sunset Controller 1 5amp 12v AC convertor 1 20mm Female DC Jack Mountable 1 Rubber Grommet 5/16id 1 Project Box 5.75"x3.3"x2" 1 Acrylic 11"*8" 1 Pentium 2 Heatsink 1ft 18awg Red 1ft 18awg Black 6ft 24awg Conductor wire 6ft Cable Shielding Tools: Soldering Iron Wire Strippers / Cutters Dremal Acrylic Cutter Screwdriver Box/Controller So fist I stared with the DIM4. I wanted to make an enclosure for it because well and open circuit board near water is not good. (please note Milad recommends not to put the DIM4 in a sealed enclosure as it puts out some heat) I started with ur basic project box and drill 4 holes in the metal lid and attached the DIM4 with the supplied hardware. Then drilled a whole on the left side to mount the AC/DC jack and a whole on the right with a grommet for the wire to the LEDs and ran the 8 conductor wire out the side. I then cut the "bottom" of the project box as seen Once this was done a used the metal base to cut a piece of matching Acrylic for a "window" As stated earlier Milad does not recommend placing in a sealed box as it does disperses some heat My solution was to use some washers to create some ventilation for the box Here's a mock up picture of the box without the clear cover Final Product of the Box / Controller PICTURE COMING SOON Next the actual LED lighting. For a Heatsink I used an old Pentium 2 Heatsink as seen in Milad's thread previously. They are very small, very efficient, readily available and generally cheap. As you will see later the one I purchased worked out very well.. Here shows the arrangement not perfect but due to the size of the tank and where the lights sit there is no "disco" effect. Once they were all stuck on using the adhesive tape supplied by LEDGroupbuy.com I soldered them Each row is on its own channel ie 3 RB 3NW 3RB I then also soldered the fan wires aswell Next mounting the Heatsink: Instead of playing with a million ideas I decided why mess with a good thing and mounted the heatsink to the original arm this allows me to service the tank as normal and doesn't require tremendous modification. Fist I deconstructed the Arm removing the wiring and MR11 fixtures Then cut out the bottom of the Arm housing And now as you can see the Heatsink slid right over Although the fan is not attached I left it off to the side and will notch out the arm if necessary After a week of full use found the heatsink did a great job without the use of the fan, so I just removed it I then cut a piece of a acrylic to cover the lid to prevent splash up from damaging the LEDs Here is the final product.... Day Night Here are the settings I used as recommended by Milad 5hrs=1 hour on 3 string LED Settings Ch1 3 XP-E Royal Blue Max 9.5v Start 4am Full 9am Set 8pm Off 1am Ch2 3 XP-E Royal Blue Max 9.5v Start 4am Full 9am Set 11pm Off 3:39am Ch2 3 XM-L Neutral White Max 8.9v Start 4am Full 9am Set 8pm Off 1am Link to comment
Trogdor447 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 ahaha WOW a P2 heat sink i never thought of that for her edge.. I'm getting ready to slice the hell out of it and do some surgery.. Link to comment
MFChop Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 They work so great I actually bought a few I wanna make some more I want another EDGE for myself and maybe sell the others My next one thought Im gonna use 3 3Up Crees from LEDGroupbuy.com I may modify this one a little more but will update the pics accordingly Link to comment
Milad LEDGroupBuy.com Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 That has the to be one of the slickest edge builds ive seen, no fan, reused P2 heatsink, looks great. I saw an edge for sale this week and I almost bought it, luckily I didn't see this build until now otherwise it would have given me an excuse to purchase it. Link to comment
MFChop Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 That has the to be one of the slickest edge builds ive seen, no fan, reused P2 heatsink, looks great. I saw an edge for sale this week and I almost bought it, luckily I didn't see this build until now otherwise it would have given me an excuse to purchase it. Thanks Milad!!! Link to comment
Deckoz2302 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Build looks sick mfchop. Where did you get that project box for the dim4. I'm looking for something like this because I'm about to start my dim4 spice garden soon. Also do you have pics of the dim4 box finished ? Link to comment
ccapasso Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Awesome work! Any chance you'd consider making one and selling? If so, what would you charge? Link to comment
MFChop Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Build looks sick mfchop. Where did you get that project box for the dim4. I'm looking for something like this because I'm about to start my dim4 spice garden soon. Also do you have pics of the dim4 box finished ? I got it at a local electronics store, Im trying to source one double sided to eliminate cutting the bottom off. Hopefully Ill find one soon. Mines a little shot on the trim work plastics a PITA to cut sometimes lol hence no pic yet. Awesome work! Any chance you'd consider making one and selling? If so, what would you charge? I might either make a few more or sell the parts to DIY Link to comment
mmcguffi Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 awesome. Im a big fan of how you got it attached to the swing bar Link to comment
MFChop Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 awesome. Im a big fan of how you got it attached to the swing bar Any chance I can I use a zip tie lmao Link to comment
MFChop Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 So its been almost a month now and all I have to say is Im extremely happy with the results. My corals are happy, my water temp isnt effect. Only down fall is the growth of algae I have but that's just due to the time its on.... Link to comment
Hinesassociates Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 So its been almost a month now and all I have to say is Im extremely happy with the results. My corals are happy, my water temp isnt effect. Only down fall is the growth of algae I have but that's just due to the time its on.... Great tank! I am kinda sorta borrowing your light build a little. (hope thats ok) Anyway just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration! Awesome idea with the P2 heat sink! I might have to attach some extra metal on mine to fit the extra 3 lights but still its a very cool idea. Keep us updated please on this! Link to comment
Cronus41 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Awesome build! It's inspired me to start something similar for my Edge 12g. Any thing's you would change or do differently if you had do build it again? Also, do you have any pics yet of how the DIM4 is mounted inside the aquarium hood? Link to comment
kirsto71 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I am really keen to see some photos of the box you mounted the DIM4 in as i have to do the same and i am after some ideas. Link to comment
Manaz101 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I am really keen to see some photos of the box you mounted the DIM4 in as i have to do the same and i am after some ideas. +1 Any update? I'm heavily thinking about doing this too! Just wish I could find a heat sink 6" x 3.5"....but think I might have to use what I can find. Thanks again for the inspiration. How is the heat? Link to comment
MFChop Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 +1 Any update? I'm heavily thinking about doing this too! Just wish I could find a heat sink 6" x 3.5"....but think I might have to use what I can find. Thanks again for the inspiration. How is the heat? Still running great! Just go out and buy a Pentium 2 heatsink there $5-$10, the heat is fine without the fan but depending on the heatsink you buy you might wanna keep the fan Link to comment
Cronus41 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Any pics yet as to how you've hid the DIM4? Also I wonder if Milad or any of the other DIY experts can suggest whether 9 LEDs would be sufficient for the Edge 12g or should I step it up with 12 LEDs? I'm about to take the plunge and make an order. Link to comment
waveink Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Just like Cronus41, I'm also looking for a mod for an Edge 12 gal, and wonder if this setup would be sufficient, or to increase to more LED's, or perhaps increase the power somehow to increase penetration since the 12 gal is twice the depth. Any help from DIY guru's would be much appreciated. Link to comment
Milad LEDGroupBuy.com Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Any pics yet as to how you've hid the DIM4?Also I wonder if Milad or any of the other DIY experts can suggest whether 9 LEDs would be sufficient for the Edge 12g or should I step it up with 12 LEDs? I'm about to take the plunge and make an order. I would do 12 LEDs and dim it down if you need. The price difference is minimal. Link to comment
waveink Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Thanks Milad, So would you suggest 7 Blue and 5 White in a 12 LED combination? Also, I am in Australia - so I'd have to source my own 5amp 12V converter, right? And you (LEDGroupBuy.com) ship here OK? cheers pete I would do 12 LEDs and dim it down if you need. The price difference is minimal. Link to comment
thever Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 My Edge gets picked up tonight, then I begin this same project. I noticed you mentioned using 3- 3 UP Crees, I have not ordered anything yet, and wonder if this would be a better way to go and I am not in a hurry. Anybody have some quick and dirty dimensions on a Pentium 2 heat sink? I found a source in a pc recycle place but its just a pile of heat sinks from all kinds of processors Link to comment
Milad LEDGroupBuy.com Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Thanks Milad, So would you suggest 7 Blue and 5 White in a 12 LED combination? Also, I am in Australia - so I'd have to source my own 5amp 12V converter, right? And you (LEDGroupBuy.com) ship here OK? cheers pete Probably better to do 8 Royal Blue and 4 Neutral White. And yes we ship to Australia We actually now offer a much cheaper shipping to Australia, UK, Denmark, Norway, and a couple other places that arent coming up in my head right now. Its much cheaper but on average its something like 3 weeks in transit compared to about 6 days with our express shipping. My Edge gets picked up tonight, then I begin this same project. I noticed you mentioned using 3- 3 UP Crees, I have not ordered anything yet, and wonder if this would be a better way to go and I am not in a hurry. Anybody have some quick and dirty dimensions on a Pentium 2 heat sink? I found a source in a pc recycle place but its just a pile of heat sinks from all kinds of processors The P2 i stripped from a computer is a 5x2 heatsink and i replaced the fan with a small 40mm cheap fan. You can fit 12 LEDs on a 5x2 The point of the heatsink is, just find a CPU heatsink that will fit in the edge, the P2 seems to work great though. The new 3UP stars we carry are probably a good simple way to go. Gives you the ability to put more on a heatsink but I would probably just get 4 and put them on the corners of the heatsink. Link to comment
Manaz101 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Curious to see how the project box came out? Also, you didn't use any drivers? Link to comment
MFChop Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Yeah I have to post pics of the box asap. The DIM4 can run 3w CREEs pere channel without any drivers making the setup very simple. Link to comment
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